‘Abyss’ between Church teaching and many family situations must be bridged, says cardinal

Cardinal Kasper tells Vatican Radio he supports 'a realistic application of doctrine to the current situation'

In its approach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, the Church needs to find a middle ground that does not destroy or abandon doctrine, but offers a “renewed” interpretation of Church teaching in order to help those whose marriages have failed, Cardinal Walter Kasper has said.

“I propose a path that goes beyond strictness and leniency,” the German cardinal and theologian told Vatican Radio yesterday.

An approach that avoids the two extremes “isn’t against morality, it isn’t against doctrine, but rather, (is meant) to support a realistic application of doctrine to the current situation of the great majority of people and to contribute to people’s happiness,” he said, speaking in Italian.

The cardinal was referring to a lengthy talk he had given to introduce a February 20-21 discussion by the College of Cardinals on family life. The talk, entitled ‘Gospel of the Family’, was to be published in March in German and Italian by private publishing houses.

Cardinal Kasper told Vatican Radio that the responses to a widely distributed Vatican questionnaire about Catholics’ family life — drawn up in preparation for October’s Synod of Bishops on the family — showed “there is a difficulty, an abyss” between Church teaching and the actual situation of many people.

“The Church has to bridge this abyss,” he said, speaking in English; but that “does not mean pure appeasement policies, but the Church must explain in a new way what family and matrimony are in order to help people and at the same time remain faithful to the Gospel.”

The cardinal said a similar process might be seen in how the Church developed its current approach to ecumenism.

“There were doctrines of the Holy Office (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) before the (Second Vatican) Council against ecumenism, yet the council found a way not to destroy or negate the doctrine but found ways to interpret it in an adequate way,” he said.

“I ask myself why it could not be possible also with other doctrines.”

He said he wouldn’t call such changes “a revolution, as much as a deepening and a development because the doctrine of the Church is a river that develops and also the doctrine of matrimony has developed like this.”

“It’s not about something new as much as a renewal of Church practice, which is always necessary and possible,” he said.

The primary purpose of his speech to the cardinals, he continued, “was not to speak about divorced and remarried people, but to speak about the Gospel of the family” and to foster “a new, better, more deep understanding of family life” as God intended — built on a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman.

“I think the majority of young people want stable relationships, want to live in a family… and therefore, the Church has to help them,” he said.

“We have to once again strengthen” the sacramental and indissoluble bond of marriage, especially as families today are facing a number of crises, including severe economic difficulties.

The Church must also take into account the many situations of Catholics who have failed marriages, he said, adding that “the Church has to be close to them, to help, support and encourage them.”

“I maintain the full teaching of the Church, but the teaching has to be applied to concrete situations, as Jesus did it and as Pope Francis does very often,” he said. “The doctrine of the church is not an ideology in the clouds, but God wants to be present, close to his people.”

I think you have it the wrong way around. If I recall correctly Henry VIII asked for a decree of nullity from the Church. That was 300 years before the USA existed. Civil marriages are a modern creation and is different from the recording of marriages by the State.

John Fisher

I think you will find the greatest obstacle and cause of the misery you describe is the State that does not harmonise its laws with the law of God.
The modern State gives its citizens the impression through its laws vice is virtue and virtue vice. No society can exist for long that does not conform itself to truth. Without trust based on a common view of what is right and wrong there will be chaos. Tolerance is the cause of mistrust and destroys the bonds that unite.

John Fisher

There are many different sorts of fruits of Earl’s Court Road. The Grapefruit of sin is death!

John Fisher

Council of Trent CHAPTER VIII.

Concubinage is severely punished.

It is a grievous sin for unmarried men to have concubines; but it is a most grievous sin, and one committed in special contempt of this great sacrament, for married men also to live in this state of damnation, and to have the audacity at times to maintain and keep them at their own homes even with their own wives. Wherefore, the holy Synod, that it may by suitable remedies provide against this exceeding evil, ordains that these concubinaries, whether unmarried or married, of whatsoever state, dignity, and condition they may be, if, after having been three times admonished on this subject by the Ordinary, even ex officio, they shall not have put away their concubines, and have separated themselves from all connexion with them, they shall be smitten with excommunication; from which they shall not be absolved until they have really obeyed the admonition given them. But if, regardless of this censure, they shall continue in concubinage during a year, they shall be proceeded against with severity by the Ordinary, according to the character of the crime. Women, whether married or single, who publicly live with adulterers or with concubinaries, if, after having been three times admonished, they shall not obey, shall be rigorously punished, according to the measure of their guilt, by the Ordinaries of the places, ex officio, even though not called upon to do so by any one; and they shall be cast forth from the city or diocese, if the Ordinaries shall think fit, calling in the aid of the Secular arm, if need be; the other penalties inflicted on adulterers and concubinaries remaining in their full force.

John Fisher

Council of Trent CANON VII.-If any one saith, that the Church has erred, in that she hath taught, and doth teach, in accordance with the evangelical and apostolical doctrine, that the bond of matrimony cannot be dissolved on account of the adultery of one of the married parties; and that both, or even the innocent one who gave not occasion to the adultery, cannot contract another marriage, during the life-time of the other; and, that he is guilty of adultery, who, having put away the adulteress, shall take another wife, as also she, who, having put away the adulterer, shall take another husband; let him be anathema.
Poor Cardinal Kasper…. oopps looks like he is anathema!

kag1982

It is not the State’s job to harmonise its laws with Church laws. When that happens, then you have awful laws like the ones in Uganda concerning homosexuality. And do you seriously want divorce outlawed? Or do you think that people should be forced by law to visit the elderly, tend to the sick, be a good neighbor, give to charity, etc.? The Church’s job is to tell people to do this, and the Church has been doing a lousy job creating a positive vision of community. It has been doing a great job telling people they cannot have sex, but a lousy job with everything else.

John Fisher

In Catholic countries the Church and State must harmonise with each other. There was a time not so long ago when divorce did not exist. Couples couple only separate but not remarry. So if they formed another sexual relation ship it was what it was . Just that! We Catholics only put up with the immoral laws because the rules of democracy means we do not have the votes.. But let there be no mistake if a law is wrong wee have no obligation to follow it. Homosexuality is a social construct . There are societies in which it does not exist. Taboos are good as social norms, laws are taboos as well. The State must deter vice and encourage virtue and the Church is crucial in that area.

Kharroufah

I did not see andyyyp’s comment. I don’t know why it was removed. I don’t think any reply to me should be removed because I came as a guest here. It is a Catholic’s site and I just came here because I am interested in these developments. I am looking at the big picture in the world and looking at your church from the outside because it is one of the big influences in the world. The three biggest are Islam, Christian and atheist. The worst of these is atheist because it brings many bad ways. Christians have many good things but I think it lost its influence more and more. Specially Catholic Church was strong, not like protestants but now I think that is changing. I am interested about what will happen in the future. Thank you.

kag1982

Church and State must be separate. Do you really want the Catholic version of a theocracy such as Iran? Religious minorities, including atheists, shouldn’t have to follow the rules of a religion that they disagree with.

And homosexuality isn’t a social construct, it is a genetic variation.

MIKE

Excellent questions.
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” contains the entire ‘Doctrine of the Faith’ accurately in one book.
The footnotes at the bottom of each page in the CCC reference the Bible or other Church Documents as they pertain to specific paragraphs.
Please go to: “What Cathoilics REALLY Believe SOURCE” for more information on the CCC.http://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/

Any individual Cardinal/ Bishop/or group of Bishops can not change Church doctrine. It is merely their own opinions which do not matter if they opine to violate the Doctrine. Clergy like all Catholics can not go against the Doctrine of the Faith.
(Any change to Doctrine would take the majority of Bishops in the world, plus the Pope must fully agree – which doesn’t happen.)

There is an entire section in the CCC and marriage – search numbered individual paragraphs # 1646 – 1651 for Doctrine on divorce.
There is a search engine on that SOURCE web site for another site.http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
This site is licensed by the Holy See. The Holy See is the Vatican and they hold the copyright to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II.”.

Catholics who do not adhere to the Doctrine of the Faith are Catholic heretics and/or schismatics # 2089.
Some people may want to change Church Doctrine due to a sinful lifestyle.
Remember we are talking about the ‘Doctrine of the Faith’ as contained in the CCC, not other things.

Dr. Jon Brownridge

Obviously the Council of Trent got it wrong, along with several other items. Let’s hope Francis can make a few corrections to previous errors.

John Terry

With Henry and Free Speech now gone, does this mean there is now censorship in place at the Catholic Herald? If so, so much for free speech and the right to dissent!

Bernard

”(…) must be bridged (…)”

… and… of course, it is the Church that MUST make accomodations… to the ” (…) many family situations (…)”… i.e. adapt to THE WORLD… I assume…

”(…) find a middle ground that does not destroy or abandon doctrine, but offers a “renewed” interpretation of Church teaching (…)”

… hummmmmm… if the ”renewed interpretation” doesn’t ”destroy or abandon doctrine”, then what does it do to it?! WHAT CHANGES? What this says it that the interpretation ” renews” the doctrine but doesn’t change it… then… what does it DO??? … in EFFECT…

Hegesippus

So punish the majority instead of educate all?

aspiring lay capuchin

The Cardinal as usual is trying to be all things to all people. yes he appreciates the pain and heartache of divorced couples more than anyone but he is retired and has no official position in the curia.

The bible contradicts his good intention and always will be intrepreted rigidly – What God has joined together let no man cast aside!

This man was just a competitor of Ratzinger. Fortunately he did not become Pope otherwise he would have shifted the church is a profoundly Lutheran direction.

Now he is just nothing. he should just keep his mouth shut and have a happy retirment in Rome with good food and good wine. He does not represent anybody anymore.

Man in Black

‘conservative Catholics’ on these pages such as Julian Lord continue to go along with the Revolution …

???

John Fisher

Now we know what Trent defines we are no longer in ignorance.
Indeed, canon 1364 reads: “An apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae sentenciae excommunication …”

Canon 751 defines these three crimes: “Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after Baptism of a truth which must be believed by divine and Catholic faith. Apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith.
The Pope does not have the authority to redefine this as it is a clear teaching of Christ. So the Sophists can beware. If the Pope were to attempt to do so he would produce a situation that is unheard of. He would place his personal opinion in the place of Christ.

Dr. Jon Brownridge

Why do you keep quoting the Council of Trent? This Council began in 1545. At the time, the Papal army was stationed in St. Peter’s. Horses were actually stabled in the Sistine Chapel. Corruption was rampant. The participants had little knowledge of anything outside of an indoctrinated Theology which allowed no thinking. As far as they knew, the earth was six thousand years old, Heaven was just above the clouds, and many of the ‘clerics’ were simply royal princes who felt they had some entitlement. Anything that came out of Trent should be taken with a grain of salt.

Dr. Jon Brownridge

“Trent is as true for us as if it had finished this morning.

And it will be true for us in 25,000 years’ time…”

If you believe that, there is little hope for you. But good luck – I wish you well.

Man in Black

Thank you for your entertaining nonsense, Jon.

Man in Black

I think some people falsely imagine that the self-description of Gaudium et Spes as a Pastoral document means that its contents are dogma.